Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux on VMware Workstation

Introduction:
In this guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) on VMware Workstation, a popular virtualization software. By following this tutorial, you can create a virtual machine (VM) and start exploring the power and capabilities of RHEL without affecting your physical hardware.

Requirements:

VMware Workstation: Download and install the latest version of VMware Workstation from the official website.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ISO: Obtain a copy of the RHEL ISO file from the Red Hat website. You may need to sign up for an account and purchase a subscription or get an evaluation copy.

Step 1: Create a New Virtual Machine

Launch VMware Workstation.
Click on “File” and select “New Virtual Machine.”
Choose “Typical” for the VM creation wizard and click “Next.”
Select “Installer disc image file (iso)” and browse to the location of the RHEL ISO file.
Click “Next” and enter the virtual machine name and location. Choose an appropriate storage location with enough free space.
Set the maximum disk size (usually 20–30GB) and select “Store virtual disk as a single file.” Click “Next.”

Step 2: Customize Hardware Configuration

Set the number of processors and cores as per your system’s capabilities.
Allocate sufficient RAM for the VM. For RHEL, a minimum of 2GB is recommended, but you can allocate more if your host system has enough resources.
Choose “NAT” or “Bridged” network mode based on your requirements.
Keep other settings as default or customize as needed for your use case.
Click “Finish” to create the VM.

Step 3: Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Power on the newly created VM.
The RHEL installer should automatically start. If not, ensure the ISO is correctly attached to the VM and restart it.
Select “Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux” and press “Enter.”
Follow the on-screen instructions to choose your language, keyboard layout, and time zone.
Set up disk partitions. You can choose to let the installer automatically partition the disk or create custom partitions to suit your needs.
Create a root password and create a user account.
Wait for the installation to complete.

Step 4: Post-Installation Setup

Once the installation finishes, the system will prompt you to reboot. Restart the VM.
Log in using the credentials you set during installation.
After logging in, you’ll be presented with the RHEL desktop environment.
Conclusion:
Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed Red Hat Enterprise Linux on VMware Workstation. Now you can start exploring and using RHEL for your development, testing, or learning purposes within the safe confines of a virtual machine.

Remember to apply any necessary updates and patches to keep your RHEL system secure and up-to-date. Enjoy your RHEL experience on VMware Workstation!